Ennore boxes won by Euro-Indian bid
This week saw the concession for the first container terminal in Ennore, Chennai’s new challenger, finally being settled. The tender has caused interest primarily because of the growing strategic importance of the automotive sector on India’s east coast.
The 30 year concession, which will have a capacity of 1.5 million teu, is to have a quay length of 1,000 metres, 15 metre water depth alongside, and will be able to handle three container vessels of up to 8,000 teu simultaneously for an estimated project cost of £207m.
However, as one of the winning consortium admits, its 33 month build time and long tender process – the tender was called back in 2008 – has made it quite a drawn-out process. This, oddly enough, may have worked in the operation’s favour as it has been long enough to iron out some of the rougher bumps in the world economy.
The consortium, headed by Barcelona-based operator Grup Marítim TCB SL, includes international construction group Obrascón Huarte Lain SA, Indian construction, power and engineering conglomerate Lanco Infratech Ltd and Eredene Capital plc, a specialist investor in Indian ports and logistics.
Eredene’s chief executive Alastair King explained to Port Strategy that the box terminal, the first to go to Ennore, confirms the ports growing status as a challenge to Chennai, adding that deep knowledge of Chennai’s capabilities – and congestion issues – helped bring the bid home.
Mr King said: “The area is an important automotive link, Hyundai and other large manufacturers have a sizeable presence – there will be components going in and cars coming out, so we see container throughput continuing to burgeon.”
Chennai might have a hard time holding on to its crown, as Nissan-Renault chose Ennore over Chennai, and Toyota hived off its Bangalore-manufactured cars through the port.
However, this isn’t the only bid on the horizon for Eredene. Papers have been submitted for bids for another bulk terminal and two more box terminals, both of which see Eredene partner again with operator Grup Marítim TCB.
The box terminals are rated at 600,000 teu per annum each. One of these is to be at New Mangalore CT while the other is a terminal at the very large Jawaharlal Nehru Port near Mumbai. The bulk terminal, which will have three berths and take handymax-sized ships, is located at the Indira Dock complex in Mumbai, putting all of these on India’s west coast.
Eredene has been at the sharp end of the process because, although relatively new, and still smaller by far than its partners. Mr King explained, “The company has been allowed to punch above its weight”, as it has benefitted from the expertise of P&O’s former team in Mumbai which Eredene brought in from Dubai World.